"Are we there?"
Hikaru looked at the identical trees, identical rocks, and the mountain ridges stacked like a labyrinth all around him.
He fell silent.
He remembered the general direction.
But that was from a few days ago when he was fighting his way through; back then, his mind was filled with nothing but killing and running, with no time to memorize landmarks.
Furthermore, the terrain in these mountains was complex, and after several battles, the landscape had long been plowed over by demons and his sword qi, looking completely different than before.
"Probably... maybe..."
Hikaru pointed in a direction, but his hand wavered slightly.
Kikyo watched him quietly.
She didn't say a word.
But Hikaru felt inexplicably awkward.
Finally, Kikyo let out a helpless sigh.
"You forgot."
She said.
"Not entirely."
Hikaru was stubborn. "It's just that these trees grow too fast and blocked the path."
Kikyo was somewhat exasperated.
"Spiritual power can sense the surroundings, but that's for malevolent energy. As for the remains of an ordinary deceased person..."
She had no way either.
Hikaru looked around.
In these desolate mountains, there wasn't even a ghost in sight; asking for directions was impossible.
However.
While there were no people, there were 'objects.'
Hikaru crouched down, found a stone that looked smooth, intact, and quite 'experienced,' and pried it out.
It was about the size of two fists, heavy, and covered in moss.
He patted the dirt off it, held the stone up to his face, and took on a serious expression.
"You there? I'd like to ask something."
Kikyo: "?"
She looked at Hikaru.
Was this Ghost Samurai having an episode again?
It was one thing to talk to trees and wells back in the village, but now he was talking to a random rock in the middle of nowhere?
"A few days ago, around here, did you see an Ghost Samurai running very fast with an old man on his back?"
Hikaru asked the stone, his tone as sincere as if he were greeting an old friend he hadn't seen in years.
Naturally, the stone did not react.
Kikyo pressed her hand to her forehead, seemingly considering whether to shoot him with an arrow to snap him out of it.
But the panel in front of Hikaru's eyes moved.
Naturally, this wasn't the first time he had done such a thing.
Walking alone in this chaotic era without a guide or map, he had to have some special 'wayfinding' methods.
[Nameless Bluestone]
[Favorability: 0 (Stranger)]
[It was sleeping and is very annoyed that you woke it up.]
Hikaru didn't give up.
He pulled a water skin from his robes, poured a little water on the stone, and wiped the moss with his sleeve.
"I see your bones are a bit dry, let me moisten you up. This moss doesn't look good either; it's blocking you from sunbathing."
His movements were gentle, his service thorough.
Kikyo moved two steps away.
She was looking at him as if he were a pervert.
[Nameless Bluestone: Favorability +1]
[Current Favorability: 1 (Goodwill)]
[It feels that although it was woken up, the water is quite sweet, and you are quite pleasing to the eye.]
[It tells you: A while ago, there was indeed a fellow carrying an old man who ducked into the ravine between those two crooked trees.]
Success.
Hikaru carefully placed the stone back in its original spot, even adjusting it to a sun-facing angle.
"Thanks, brother. See you around."
He stood up, clapped his hands, and pointed to the front left.
"Over there, the ravine in the middle."
Kikyo looked at him, then at the stone.
"...The stone told you?"
"This is what you call 'throwing a stone to ask the way.'"
Hikaru smiled and stepped forward.
"All things have spirits. As long as you are sincere, even a stone will speak."
Kikyo followed behind him, watching his back.
Although her reason told her this was absurd...
But...
If it were this strange demon, it didn't seem impossible.
She looked down at the stone that had been wiped clean.
It did seem a bit more pleasing to the eye than before?
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